New restaurant show dates spur fresh conflicts

July 28, 2011|By Kathy Bergen | Tribune reporter

Moving the 2012 restaurant show up two weeks next spring to avoid overlap with the NATO and G8 summits is causing scheduling issues for other trade shows, and convention officials may have to cough up additional funds to resolve the conflicts.

"Once we finalized with the National Restaurant Association, there was a little bit of a domino effect," said Don Welsh, head of the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau, the government-subsidized non-profit that books shows into McCormick Place.

By moving the restaurant association's show to May 5-8, it created some overlap in the move-in and move-out times with the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, set for April 27-29. Both are important events on the city's calendar, with attendance in the 60,000 range.

"We've given (the kitchen and bath show) different date options, and they are discussing them," said Welsh. Show organizers declined to comment.

The restaurant association agreed to move its dates after negotiating a one-time financial package worth about $2 million aimed at mitigating losses stemming from the date changes. The $2 million includes some non-cash items, such as help with marketing and building attendance.

Convention officials may need to offer concessions to other groups as well, Welsh acknowledged. It is too soon to estimate how much financial assistance might have to be provided, he said.

"We realize date changes can be very difficult, and we're being as empathetic and responsive as we can be," he said. "None of them are pleased this is occurring, but they understand the significance of the NATO/G8 summits, that they are great for our country and great for Chicago."

The bureau is negotiating with two other shows as well.

Sweets & Snacks Expo is scheduled for May 22-24, with its move-in starting May 17. It overlaps with the NATO and G8 meetings, set for May 15-22.

With about 18,000 attendees, the National Confectioners Association's show is smaller than the restaurant show. And now that the restaurant show is moved to early May, there is less of an issue with hotel availability.

Still, security for the global summits is expected to create logistical and traffic issues, and convention officials are talking with that show about alternate dates. Show organizers could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.

Moving the restaurant show earlier also closed the door on some date-change requests from the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo 3.0, which is open to the public and draws about 28,000. The show is booked for March 18-20 but had wanted to move to late April or May, Welsh said.

"We couldn't offer those, so we're looking at options," he said. Show organizers declined to comment.

Once all the scheduling is worked out, he said, "the good news is we'll have an incredible spring."